MAHLE steps up involvement in China—April 04, 2001

The Stuttgart MAHLE Group, one of the world's largest suppliers of pistons, engine components, filter and valvetrain systems with annual sales of EUR 2,4 billion and 25,000 employees, has further stepped up its involvement in China, one of the world's leading growth markets.

Since the end of 1999 MAHLE has had a wholly-owned subsidiary in Nanjing for the production of passenger car and commercial vehicle pistons. Now MAHLE has assumed a majority share of 66.7 per cent and commercial leadership in MAHLE-Izumi (Liaoning) Piston Co., Ltd., after holding a minority share in the company so far.

Located in the north of China in the Province of Liaoning, the plant will be manufacturing approximately 1.2 million pistons for passenger car and commercial vehicle engines this year. The main target customers are car makers in the surrounding region, such as Mitsubishi and FAW-VW, where various VW and Audi models come off the production line at the Changchun plant. The MAHLE plant further south in Nanjing, in turn, concentrates on FIAT, Iveco and VW Shanghai as their main customers.